City to add four-way stop for ODCS at First, Oak St.

The Graham City Council approved a request from Open Door Christian School Thursday to make the intersection by the school at First and Oak St. into a four-way stop, with no parking signs posted at the drop off areas. The area previously only had two stop signs posted.

During the Thursday, Aug. 19, council meeting ODCS requested the city to make a portion of First St. between Elm and Oak St., as well as a portion of Oak St. from First St. to Second St., a one-way. During the meeting City Manager Brandon Anderson advised the council to table the item upon visiting with ODCS regarding the request.

The school included in their letter to the city that enrollment at the school has increased to over 130 children partly due to offering junior high school options. The school has been confined in the past to one block with all the classrooms accessible without crossing the street, with the exception of the physical education and other activities which require the students to cross to Oak Street Baptist Church.

When the school expanded to a junior high program they expanded that option to the old Brazos Valley Church building on Oak St., which was donated to the school. That building houses fifth through seventh grades, with an expanded eight grade scheduled to be added next year, according to the letter to the city.

“In years past all (students) have been dropped off at the Open Door office on Oak Street or at the Open Door Elementary entrance on 1st Street. Traffic has always been an issue when picking up and dropping off kids due to two-way traffic for the area of 1st and Oak St.,” ODCS board vice president Eric Arrell wrote to the city in the letter.

For the rest of the story, see the Sept. 4 edition of The Graham Leader.